Page 17 of Arrow to my Heart

No matter how much I’ve proven I can get up and go to the bathroom on my own during the night, she’s convinced she wouldn’t hear me from the room right next door if I needed something. Even if I just walked most of the length of Boris’ huge ass house, she still won’t leave my side.

“I hate that I won’t see you for a few days,” she finally says, after telling me each detail of her idea for the guys’ suits. She even went so far as to shoot me centerpiece ideas. I have no idea how she isn’t in charge of more things. The way she takes on tasks, I have no doubt she would whip an entire country into shape overnight.

“I’ll miss you, but I am happy to know you’ll be in anactualbed.”

She rolls her eyes. “That couch costs more than any bed I’ve ever slept in.”

“It’s still a couch.” We grow silent as I crawl into my bed, nearly breathless from the effort. I have my wheelchair close by if I need to move fast and it’s been helping me work out my arms. But my legs are slow to regain their strength.

“You know,” I say quietly, “it would be okay if you slept in my bed with me. Or if you and Havoc shared the bed with me.”

She nods, returning her gaze to stare blankly at whatever it is beyond the phone.

“Maybe.” I can hear in her tone this isn’t a word said to make me happy, she’s actually thinking about this.

My chest swells with hope. “Whenever you’re ready, Kitten, I’ll be here. We both will.”

Her eyes meet mine, and she grins. I love the way her cheeks blush when I call her that. It makes me never want to stop saying it.

Chapter 9

It’s the night before the wedding and there is still so much to do. My brain is in overdrive. I can’t seem to find the contact for the caterer. Of course, someone would decide to tell us last minute that they’re vegan. Did Evie want a vegan option? No. Did I coordinate one anyway? Of course.

I knock on Havoc’s hotel door because I knew he was talking with them today to get pictures and vet all of their staff. When the door swings open, the rich scent of rum and spice hits my senses, followed by a shirtless Havoc wearing only a towel slung low on his hips as he dries his hair with another.

He freezes when he sees me, then that sly grin splits his face.

“Hey there, Unicorn. What do you need?”

I swear I try to hear him, I really, really do. But I also think he flexes his tattooed abs on purpose because no words get through as I all but drool on the floor.

“You just planning on looking, baby girl?”

My eyes snap to his and I lose all train of thought. Pure wanton need pulses between my legs. I can actually feel myself grow wet in my pink mini-skirt. I have no doubt that my thighs will be sticky when I try to walk away.

I swallow and hold up my notebook in front of me, trying to remember the reason I came here.

“I…um…caterer.”

His hand reaches for mine as he pulls me into the room, the door clicking shut behind us as he cages me in with the wall at my back.

“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice trembling.

Freaking heckadoodle, not even I can tell if it’s shaking with need for him or over the situation. All I know is my eyes fall to his lips, and he smiles the instant he tracks the movement.

One second my brain is running rampant with things I still need to do. The next his mouth is on mine, and the only thing I want to think about is him.

We both know I haven’t fully forgiven him, but hey, it’s tradition to hook up at weddings. Right?

I want him. I’ve been craving him for a while now. I’ll never not want him. Because as much as he has wreaked havoc on my heart, he’s stillmine. My protector. My Tobias.

No matter how many times I try to tell my stupid heart to forget him, it can’t. I’m done trying and fighting only to have it hurt worse. Maybe this is what we need to move forward. This is a way for him to show me he isn’t running away again. So, I lean into the kiss and let all of the sharp walls I’ve created to keep him at arm's length shatter at my feet.

He feels it too, the moment I let him in. I kept my guard up the first time he kissed me back when we were there comforting Evie. I think he knew. He knew and that’s why he took a step back and gave me space.

This time, when he tries to pull back, I lock my arms around his muscular back. His muscles strain beneath my hands as I dig my freshly manicured nails into his skin, but he loves it. In fact, he legit growls into my mouth over it.

“Fuck, baby girl. Do that again,” he says against my lips.

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